Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1887-07-30
DRIVING CATTLE BACK.

The Texas Cattle Trail to be Abandoned
10000 Head OF Cattle on the Great Trail
70 be Driven Back to Texas.
DnWEE, Col, July 21.-Cattlemen who
now have their herds going north on the
great cattle trail have decided upon q move
which viii prove sensational news 20 cattle
men throughout the west. It is an agree
Enent among the owners to face about the
5000 head now on the trail and drive them
back into Texas. The reason for so doing is
because there is absolutely no market for
the cattle, and to turn the herds
back il the only solution to the difficulty
into which the cattle owners find themselves
involved.
The meeting az which this decision was ar
rived at was held last night in the rooms Of
the Cattle GrOWer5' association. Among the
eattlsmen present were MessFs. a. c. Tardy
4 Co., Of Del Rio, Tex and agents repre-
ssnting the Simpson Cattle company, Of that
state. These companies own the largest
number Of ths cattle now on the drive
north.
OF the cattle now on the trail, 10000 head
have already entered Wyoming and the re-
mainder, $1,000 In number, are reported in
the vicinity Of the Arkansas river.
Last nights meeting was intended to be a
secret one, but the facts have leaked out.
The cattlemen present at the meeting went
to Hugo, Col, to-day 70 meet the superin-
tsndent and captain Of the drive to inform
them Of the action taken and 20 give them
oEders for the return drive.
This action Is q most important one, mas
much as 1t practically removes from exist
snce forever the long used cattle trail for the
transportation of cattle. Such q decision
fraught with such vital results, was only
made after il became apparent that no
remedy could be depended upon.
In the spring these cattle, aggregating
10000 head, were started from q tract of
country extending 200 miles south Of Fort
Worth, with Montana and Dakota as object
i've points. AS In former years, the markets
for the cattle were here 70 be found. Mon
tana was thought 70 be q promising field for
the disposition of the stock, as the storms Of
the previous winter were thought to have SO
decimated cattle as to make them scarce.
The cause Of the trouble lies principally IN
the exaggerated nature of the information
affecting the stock market. After the herds
had started the fact became known that Wy
Oming wanted no cattle whatever, and be-
sides was hostile, owing TO the rumOr6d eE-
ist5nce OF Texas fever. Colorado had a sutti-
cient number to supply her own demand,
whilst Montana and Dakota, instead of fam
ishing for beef, had plenty Of steers Of their
oWn raising.
For fourteen years have the cattlemen
used that trail to northern markets, and
without a seasons interruption, many mill
nOng OF dollars worth OF cattle have ira
vsrsed its length. The trail begins about
200 miles south Of Fort Worth, or rather in
the center Of the state Of Texas, and takes a
straight line to Wyoming, entering Colo
RADIO near West Las Animas.
From this point it traverses Eastern Colo
RADIO On a line with Hugo, and then north
ward. The trail was established IN 1868 by
the cattlemen Of Texas, 70 furnish beef to
the United States government for the use Of
the army. The cRttls-driVing was a danger
Hg1NTH HrHrH #TfHFn#
their way through bands Of hostile Indians,
and suffer other privatiOns. But it became
from the start a paying business, and for
several years $50 per cent profit on every
steer was considered a fair return for the
damages incurred. The cattle trail thus be-
came fttingly established, and since that
time it has been a source Of great wealth to
Texas.
Last year the number OF cattle driven over
the trail was 10000 head, whilst this year
the number up to the present time Is but
TO- oO head, which have now been turned
back into Texas